Staying focused is a difficult problem to overcome, since the problem occurs inside your own mind. To combat procrastination, give yourself a written objective when you sit down to do something.

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As productivity blog Zen Habits explains, just the act of pausing to consider what you actually want to do can go a long way in setting your brain on the right track. Writing it down takes it out of your brain and gives you a physical reminder to stay on target:

As you start an activity, like opening your email or starting to write something, or even opening your computer or starting your day, pause to think about what your intention is with that activity. Make an intention to be mindful and notice your procrastination. Setting intentions doesn't necessarily mean you'll actually achieve what you set out to do, but it helps. And it helps you to learn to get better at that with practice.

Ultimately, being aware of what you're doing and what distracts you can be the biggest help towards overcoming procrastination. Whether it's writing down what you want to accomplish or examining how you feel after you've made excuses. Check out Zen Habits' post for more tips on avoiding procrastination.